Fall by Winter

He tasted delicious, and he was an amazing kisser. In between shallow breaths, he gave me deep, hungry kisses that made me literally weak in the knees.

When he eventually slowed down the kissing, I was flushed, pathetically desperate, and utterly out of breath. I panted against his neck, willing the need to simmer down a bit, and he slid one hand down to cup my ass.

That wasn’t helping.

“Go back inside while I still have a shred of self-restraint left.” He pressed a firm kiss to my temple. “Christ, Lis.” He cupped my face in both his hands and dipped down, kissing me once more. “You’re as intoxicating as I knew you’d be.”

I shuddered violently. How could he still form words?

“So fucking beautiful.” He kissed me harder but didn’t go deeper. “Go back inside,” he repeated in a rough whisper. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I drew a ragged breath and peered up into his predatory gaze, and I was sure he saw the hunger in mine. I couldn’t fucking hide it, and it was his fault. He’d disarmed me, the bastard.

I swiped the pad of my thumb over his bottom lip to make sure he didn’t have any lipstick traces.

He flashed a dark little smile and nipped at my thumb. “I’ll tear down those walls, darlin’.”

What…what walls?

I bit my lip and tried to read the answer in his expression.

Then my stare dropped to his mouth, and I heard myself murmur, “Kiss me.”

Because fuck reading into things. My brain couldn’t handle it right now.

He lowered his mouth to mine, keeping it too soft and chaste for my liking. “Dangerous girl,” he whispered. “You don’t know what I’m capable of, though.”

“Sounds…ominous.” I ghosted my fingers over his silver fox scruff. I was so drunk on him. “Did I mention it’s good to see you again?”

Amusement joined the lust in his eyes, and he shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

I smiled and kissed him. “It’s so good to see you, Mason.”

He hummed into a kiss that had a finality to it. “It’s good to see you again too, Lis. We should do this more often.”

His smirk gave me a damn fever.

“Maybe we should.” I tried to keep my cool, probably failing, and smoothed down his shirt. I’d grabbed on to it at some point.

He chuckled quietly and kissed me on the forehead. “Go back to your friend.”

I suppose I should.FourI touched my lips and leaned over the counter next to the sink, planting my elbows on the surface. I hadn’t chosen this spot to have my morning coffee because it happened to have a view of the house that was for sale on my street. Definitely not.

I was ridiculous.

I was a mess too. A happy mess that couldn’t stop smiling to myself.

If Mason did buy that house, he’d be neighbors with the couple right across from me.

It could be…fun? Casual, undoubtedly. He’d seen me at my best last night. I’d rocked that dress and those heels, if that was okay to think. Good color lipstick too. I’d felt confident and carefree. And it was a contrast to who I really was. The reality wasn’t as polished.

I stirred some honey into my coffee and watched the sugar blend with the black gold.

Adjusting my glasses, I peered out the window again. It was going to be a nice day. Blue skies, not too cold. The leaves had shifted to orange and red almost overnight a couple weeks ago.

I cracked open the window, and a crisp breeze rolled in.

Brady would be here any moment, and I’d probably cave and fuss over him, not to mention take care of his studio above the garage. He wouldn’t be able to paint and pick up furniture if he was sick.

“Morning,” Aurora yawned behind me.

I turned to her and took a sip of my coffee. “Morning, sweetie. Did you and Jess have fun last night?”

She’d been asleep on the couch by the time I came home, and Jess had left. Sometimes he spent the night, but we hadn’t bought a new air bed yet.

“He tried to teach me some game on the Xbox. It went so-so.” She slumped down on one of the stools at the island. “What smells good?”

I nodded at the oven. “I’m making scones. Your brother will be here soon.”

I studied her as she opened the fridge to get some fixings for breakfast. I didn’t think I had anything to worry about where she and Jess were concerned, but I wasn’t a hundred percent. For as long as boys had been on her radar, she’d been all about Kelly’s son, Matt.

“Has anything changed between you and Jess?” I wondered curiously.

She frowned at me over her shoulder. “Um, no? No.” She shook her head and dumped butter, cheese, and strawberry preserves on the island. “I wish it would sometimes. Like, I wish I could feel something for him. It would be so easy.”